Umtiti expects a special night in Lyon

CAIRO – 18 February 2019: French International defender, Samuel Umtiti, returned to Barcelona squad that is preparing to face France’s Lyon at UEFA Champions League round of 16 on Tuesday night in Lyon.

The French defender returned to the squad after several months on the sidelines as he was suffering from a serious knee injury.

It is expected to be a special night for Umtiti who will return to France to face his childhood club, Lyon.

Umtiti, born in Cameroon and moved to Lyon when he was 2 years old, is a diehard fan for Lyon and he joined the club academy when he was 9.

The defender got promoted through the club rankings till he joined the first team when he was 19 and ince then he became a key play at the team squad.

Umtiti’s amazing performance with the club grabbed the interest of the European giants but at the end he preferred to join Barcelona in 2016.

Umtiti hopes to help his team, Barcelona, to win UEFA Champions League and put an end to their arch rivals, Real Madrid’s dominance over the title.

Barcelona manager, Ernesto Valverde’s chosen squad for the game consists of: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Inaki Pena, Jokin Ezkieta; Nelson Semedo, Gerard Pique, Clement Lenglet, Jeison Murillo, Jordi Alba, Sergi Roberto, Samuel Umtiti, Moussa Wague; Ivan Rakitic, Sergio Busquets, Philippe Coutinho, Arturo Vidal, Carles Alena; Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi, Ousmane Dembele, Malcom and Kevin-Prince Boateng.